Paul VI Catholic High School

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St. Paul VI Catholic High School
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
42341 Braddock Road

Chantilly
,
Virginia
20152

United States
Coordinates38°51′17″N 77°18′52″W / 38.8548°N 77.3144°W / 38.8548; -77.3144Coordinates: 38°51′17″N 77°18′52″W / 38.8548°N 77.3144°W / 38.8548; -77.3144
Information
TypePrivate, coeducational
MottoGrow in Grace & Wisdom
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Patron saint(s)St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal
Established1983
OversightDiocese of Arlington
CEEB code470801
PrincipalTom Opfer
Head teacherVirginia Colwell
ChaplainRev. Stephen Schultz
Grades9–12
Enrollment908 (2017–2018)
Average class size22
Student to teacher ratio10:1
Color(s)Black and gold   
SloganDo Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well
Athletics conferenceWashington Catholic Athletic Conference
NicknamePanthers
RivalBishop O'Connell High School
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
SAT (2017) average1210
NewspaperThe Panther Press
YearbookImprints
Tuition$19,310 (non-Catholic)
$14,625 (Catholic)
Websitehttp://www.paulvi.net

St. Paul VI Catholic High School (known as PVI) is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school in Chantilly, Virginia, United States.[2]

The school was previously located in southwest Fairfax, and is named after Pope Paul VI. In 2020 it relocated to Chantilly, Virginia.

It competes in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and has a high-profile athletic rivalry with Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington.

Paul VI opened for the 1983–84 school year, accepting freshmen and sophomore students only. The next year (1984–85), the school was open to freshmen through juniors, and 1985–86 saw the first senior class. The Diocese of Arlington purchased the school building, which was in a dilapidated condition, from George Mason University, which had owned it for about a decade. The structure had originally been Fairfax High School, which opened in 1935 and relocated to a new facility in January 1972. One wing of the building housed Alzheimer patients until the school's third year.

During its first years, the school was ministered by five Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who also taught classes and one of whom (Don Heet) served as the principal. The remainder of the faculty were lay teachers. The other ordained faculty were Father Robert Mulligan, O.S.F.S and Father John Lyle, O.S.F.S. In 2000, the school selected its first principal who was not from the De Sales order. Philip Robey was selected for this position, and stepped down seven years later. He was replaced by Virginia Colwell, a former English teacher at Paul VI.

In 2020 the high school relocated to South Riding in Loudoun County, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The move had been planned prior to the pandemic.

The team name "Panthers" was voted by student body during the school's first year. The original school colors were brown and gold until the 1999–2000 school year. The school moved away from brown in favor of black, which was considered more stylish by the student body.

After the canonization of Pope St. Paul VI in October 2018, the school was renamed St. Paul VI Catholic High School to further honor its patron and namesake.[4]

2001–2003 expansion[]

On May 9, 2001, Bishop Paul S. Loverde of the Arlington Diocese led a group of civic and school officials at the groundbreaking for a new $6.5 million student activity center. It included a gathering space for the entire student body, three classrooms, gymnasium, locker rooms, weight room, movable stage used for athletic and stage equipment, offices, laundry facilities and concession stand.[5]

The expansion was the result of five years of planning and fundraising by the school to refurbish its grounds. After a generous grant from the Diocese of Arlington, school officials were able to make some needed repairs to the old building. Before actual construction began on the activity center in winter 2001, air conditioning was installed in the current building and the original locker rooms were torn down.

The two-story addition was completed for the 2003–04 school year. This included the new gymnasium, locker rooms, computer lab, coaches' offices and a wrestling room.[6]

Academics[]

Advanced Placement courses include Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Comparative Government, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, English Literature and Composition, European History, French, German, Latin literature, Macroeconomics, Music Theory, Psychology, Statistics, Studio Art: 2-D Design, Studio Art: Drawing, United States Government and Politics, United States History.

Dual enrollment courses include Biology 101, Biology 102, Chemistry 111,German 101, German 102, Cyberscience, Microbiology & Genetics, English Writing and Composition [7]

Faculty with advanced degrees: 55 master's degrees, 4 PhD, 1 MD, 1 CPA[when?][citation needed]

Academic facts:

  • On the Paul VI Class of 2015, 98% went on post-secondary educational institutions; 94% to four-year colleges; and 4% to two-year colleges.
  • Over the last seven years,[when?] 68% of the final grades awarded were "B" or higher.
  • 45% of Paul VI's current[when?] students earned a 3.5 or better GPA (honor roll).
  • The Class of 2015 was offered over $13 million in college scholarships.
  • Paul VI was named one of the Top 50 Catholic schools in the nation by the Cardinal Newman Society in 2013.[8]
  • In 2014, Paul VI was named to the Catholic Education Honor Roll by the Cardinal Newman Society. Fewer than 5% of Catholic high schools in the U.S. made the honor roll in 2014, numbering 71 schools (up from 50 the previous year).[9]
  • In 2013 it was chosen by the editors of Virginia Living magazine as a 2013 Top Virginia School.[10]
  • In 2014, Paul VI was named Best Private High School in the Best of Suburbia poll by Posh Seven Magazine.[11]

Athletics[]

Paul VI's athletic teams compete in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and the Virginia Independent State Athletic Association (VISAA).

Basketball[]

The Paul VI basketball team won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference boys' basketball championship in 2012. They did not lose a game in conference play, winning 21 consecutive conference games. No other team in the history of the WCAC has had an undefeated season while winning 21 games. The WCAC is widely regarded as the best high school basketball conference in the country.[12]

Both the boys' and girls' basketball teams won the WCAC title in 2014.[13] The boys' team also won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship and the Alhambra championship for 2014.[14] The boys' team won again in 2018.[15] The girls' team has won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association championship every year since 2002.[16]

Baseball[]

The baseball program at Paul VI had a record of 121–32 and seven championship titles between 2004 and 2008. Paul VI baseball also competes for the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) State Championship at the end of each season. The VISAA State Tournament includes the top eight private school baseball teams in the State of Virginia.

The Panthers were ranked as No. 6 in the nation by USA Today in 2008 and ranked as No. 3 by Rise Magazine. They finished the 2008 season with a record of 27–3, won the Southeastern Baseball Classic Championship, the VISAA State Championship and ended the year ranked 12th in America by several publications.

Former coach Billy Emerson, had an overall record of 138–44 upon arriving in 2003. He was named coach of the year several times by the Washington Post, Washington Examiner, as well as coach of the year in the WCAC and the VISAA. In 2008, he was also named Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year by the National H.S. Baseball Coaches Association and was one of eight finalists for National H.S. Coach of the year. Emerson stepped down to focus on being Paul VI Athletic Director.[17] Emerson has since returned as coach.[18]

2004: (17–12) Regular season: 2nd place in the WCAC South – post season: WCAC Tournament Quarterfinalists, VISAA State Champions

2005: (26–5) Regular season: WCAC South Champs – post season: WCAC Tournament finalists, VISAA State Semifinalists (nationally ranked as high as No. 17)

2006: (24–8) Regular season: 3rd place in the WCAC (north/south divisions no longer in place) – post season: WCAC Tournament Finalists, VISAA State Finalists

2007: (27–4) Regular season: 1st place in the WCAC – post season: WCAC Tournament Champs, VISAA State Semifinalists (nationally ranked as high as No. 41)

2008: (27–3) Regular season: 1st place in the WCAC Southeastern Baseball Classic Champs - post season: WCAC Tournament Semifinalists, VISAA State Champions (nationally ranked as high as No. 3)

Football[]

1999 WCAC Varsity Football Champions

Boys' soccer[]

2010 Virginia State Champs (VISAA)

2015 Virginia State Champs (VISAA)

Boys' lacrosse[]

The PVI men's lacrosse program made its first appearance in both the State Championship and WCAC Championship games in 2013. In 2014, professional lacrosse player Steven Brooks became offensive coordinator. The lacrosse program has made a final four every year since 2013. Since 2013, the men's lacrosse program has been ranked in the top 25 three different times and has stayed in the top 50. In 2018, the team won its first Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I boys' lacrosse State Championship.[19]

Girls' soccer[]

On November 5, 2016, the Lady Panthers took home the Washington Catholic Athletic Association (WCAC) Girls Varsity Soccer title for the first time since 1993, when the league was named the "Catholic Girls Athletic Association".[20]

Other sports[]

Cross country, golf, ice hockey, soccer (girls), swimming & diving, tennis, indoor track (winter), track and field, wrestling, volleyball, cheerleading, dance team, softball, special Olympics soccer, basketball

Controversy[]

There was a high profile scandal at PVI in 1999 when it was discovered that 16-year-old student Jonathan Taylor Spielberg, who claimed to be Steven Spielberg's nephew, was actually Anoushirvan Fakhran, a 27-year-old pornographic actor from Tehran, Iran. After repeated truancy by Fakhran, school officials contacted DreamWorks to see if Spielberg had any information about his "nephew". When it was discovered that Spielberg only had nieces, a police investigation followed. Fakhran was arrested and later pleaded guilty to forgery.[21][22][23] Fakhran was sentenced to two years and eleven months of probation, was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, and was barred from having contact with minors.

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ SACS-CASI. "SACS-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  2. ^ PAULVI.NET
  3. ^ Catholic Herald. "Paul VI Catholic High School to relocate to South Riding- The Arlington Catholic Herald". catholicherald.com. Retrieved Jul 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Mission and History". www.paulvi.net. Retrieved 2019-11-04.
  5. ^ Flach, Michael. "PVI Breaks Ground for New Student Center – The Arlington Catholic Herald". Catholicherald.com. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  6. ^ "Activity Center Ushers in New Era at Paul VI H.S. – The Arlington Catholic Herald". Catholicherald.com. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  7. ^ "Dual Enrollment – Paul VI Catholic High School". Paulvi.net. 2013-11-22. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  8. ^ Kiley, Eilien. "Paul VI named among Top 50 Catholic High Schools in U.S." patch.com. patch.com. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-06-10. Retrieved 2015-06-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Virginia Living–October 2013". Issuu. Retrieved Jul 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Best of Suburbia Winners!". Oct 2, 2014. Retrieved Jul 28, 2019.
  12. ^ Tennis, Mark. "Inside the FAB 50: WCAC toughest league? – ESPNHS Boys' Basketball – ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  13. ^ "A clean sweep for the Panthers – The Arlington Catholic Herald". Catholicherald.com. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  14. ^ "Varsity Boys' Basketball – Paul VI Catholic High School". Paulvi.net. Archived from the original on 2014-04-21. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  15. ^ "VISAA.org: Document: Boys Basketball Championship Results". Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  16. ^ "VISAA.org: Document: Championship Results". Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  17. ^ "Baseball: Paul VI Coach Billy Emerson to step down at end of season". The Washington Post. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  18. ^ "Baseball Coaching Staff – Paul VI Catholic High School". Paulvi.net. 2013-11-22. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
  19. ^ "VISAA State Champ". Retrieved 2018-09-27.
  20. ^ "Gretchen Bennett helps Paul VI shut out St. John's; Gonzaga outlasts DeMatha in WCAC soccer championships". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  21. ^ "BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | 'Spielberg's nephew' guilty of forgery". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved Jul 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "Say uncle". Salon. Feb 16, 2000. Retrieved Jul 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Spielberg Story: A Self-Made Star Who Fell to Earth". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved Jul 28, 2019.

External links[]

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